at least 17 dead in a Russian strike on a market in the Donetsk region

2023-09-07 04:39:39
Ukrainian police and rescue workers inspect the rubble of a market bombed by the Russian army, in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine, September 6, 2023. INTERIOR MINISTRY OF UKRAINE / VIA REUTERS

At least 17 civilians were killed in a Russian strike on a market in Kostiantynivka, a town in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, on Wednesday (September 6th), the same day of a visit to Kiev by the secretary of American State, Antony Blinken.

CCTV footage shows a quiet shopping alley when suddenly the whistle of a projectile is heard, followed by a very loud explosion. A survivor testified to Agence France-Presse about the violence of the impact, which occurred at a time when the streets were very busy. “Everything was destroyed” et “the girls who were selling are all dead”he said.

Rescuers searched the debris and transported some injured people for treatment in front of charred vehicles and stalls. The Ukrainian government reported 17 people killed, including a child, and 32 injured.

“Russian terrorists deliberately targeted the market” when no military target was nearby, accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Kostiantynivka, which had almost 70,000 inhabitants before the Russian offensive launched in early 2022, is about thirty kilometers from Bakhmout, the scene of a bloody battle with troops from Moscow for more than a year.

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It’s a “despicable attack” against “a war-torn community”denounced the UN humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine, Denise Brown. “Russia continues to terrorize the civilian population in Ukraine”, “intentional attacks against civilians are war crimes”commented a spokesperson for the European Union, while for German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock it is“an attack on international law and humanity”. This new attack “stresses the need to continue to support the Ukrainian people in the defense of their territory”reacted the spokesperson for President Joe Biden, Karine Jean-Pierre.

Depleted uranium ammunition, controversial weapons

The shelling in Kostiantynivka took place hours after Mr. Blinken arrived in kyiv. He insisted that the United States remained “alongside Ukraine”, announcing additional aid of one billion dollars (932 million euros) to the Ukrainians.

“The progress of the counter-offensive [de l’armée ukrainienne] in progress have accelerated in recent weeks and this new aid will help give it a new impetus”said Blinken, on his fourth visit to Ukraine since the Russian invasion began in February 2022.

In Washington, the Pentagon revealed at the same time that 120mm ammunition containing depleted uranium, effective against tanks and other armored vehicles, was going to be delivered to the Ukrainians.

Uranium is an extremely dense metal that does not deform when it comes into contact with its target. It is thus used in armor-piercing shells and bombs to make them more penetrating. These ammunition are in equipment in many armies, in particular American and Russian. If their use is not prohibited by international law, these weapons are controversial because of the toxic risks for soldiers and populations.

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The United Kingdom had already announced several months ago its intention to deliver depleted uranium ammunition to Ukraine, an initiative then denounced by Moscow, which threatened to use it too. After this new announcement from the Pentagon, the Kremlin castigated “inhumanity” de Washington.

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“American aid is not charity. Today, thanks to our partners, Ukraine is holding back Russian aggression. We will never call for the deployment of American troops in Ukraine”his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, told Mr. Blinken.

The World with AFP